The Reason for Apologetics

In the context of faith, apologetics is less about arguing 
and more about articulating. {Tweet this}

As newlyweds, my husband and I both attended graduate school. I studied rhetoric. He studied apologetics. We used to joke with friends and say that I was learning how to win arguments, and he was learning how to apologize.

That’s not exactly what rhetoric means, of course, and it’s not at all what apologetics means. It was merely a play on words.

Both words, however, are rooted in ancient Greek language. Rhetoric is classically defined as the art of persuasive speech — the ingredients of which combine for great compositions — which is why writers study it. But the word apologetics comes from the word apologia, which means “speech of defense.”

Over time, the field of Christian apologetics has developed into a specific theological discipline — namely, the defense of the faith. Unfortunately, some consider the term defense to be synonymous with argumentation, and in the context of a courtroom, this is understandable. But in the context of faith, apologetics is less about arguing and more about articulating.

Apologists are believers who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. They pursue a deeper knowledge of God by asking questions and studying Scripture. They’re modern-day Bereans (Acts 17:11) who are being obedient to Peter’s  command:

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Always be prepared.

To give an answer.

To everyone who asks you.

To give the reason.

For the hope that you have.

Apologists, first and foremost, have hope — the kind of hope an unbelieving world can’t understand. {Tweet this}

With so much war and poverty and disease, the existence of hope seems to defy logic, so nonbelievers will oftentimes watch from a distance to see if this hope thing is for real. And when they’re ready, they’ll approach their believing friends to ask:

Is this hope for real?

Where does this hope come from?

How did you find it?

Can I know this same hope?

When I was a new believer, one of my friends asked me about the change she had noticed in me. Her question caught me off guard. We normally flipped through the pages of People magazine, talking about our favorite TV shows. We didn’t talk about Jesus.

So when she asked, I stammered out fragments of a story: I went to camp. Spent some time alone. Read my Bible. And something — Someone — called me to surrender my life. It sounds sort of crazy. I know.

With a shrug of my shoulders, my version of “apologetics” sounded, indeed, more like an apology. I didn’t have an articulate response. I went home that day and asked God to forgive me for floundering my way through an opportunity to share about the incredible grace that had transformed my life. And I made it my mission to study His Word and be prepared to give an answer for the hope I now have in Christ.

That's what apologetics is about.

Apologetics is an invitation to actively investigate Scripture and examine its truths so we can give an appropriate response to anyone who asks.

To engage in apologetics is to be inquisitive, not argumentative. {Tweet this}

The reason for apologetics is to know, definitively, the reason for the hope we have Christ. {Tweet this} It doesn’t require a post-graduate degree either. Peter was a trained fisherman, not apologist. Yet, he’s the one instructing every believer to be prepared to share their faith, and to do so with gentleness and respect.

And that’s my deepest heart’s desire. To live my faith in word and deed. Always with gentleness and respect.

About Denise

Denise is a teacher at heart. Whether she’s speaking at a women’s retreat or a weekly Bible study, she’s dedicated to helping others become living testimonies of grace and truth. Born and raised in a rural farming community, Denise now lives in the greater Los Angeles area with her husband and three kids. She teaches writing at a Christian university, where she enjoys connecting with students and sharing her faith in Christ. She’s the author of On Becoming a Writer: What Every Blogger Needs to Know, and she devotes her blog to helping others develop their craft and deepen their faith. You can connect with Denise on her blog --denisejhughes.com — or on Twitter,Facebook, and Pinterest.

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